The Irish standard., 1887-12-24

RISH STA 1JDARD ]: SA
fore her, and She: knew him for what
he was the wreck and ruin of a gentle
man. .
Ever and anon the merry tones of q
child rang throughout the house, and
at such moments the man paused and
trembled. s.Hervoice; her own sweet
voice!" he murmured Once she
called to the servant, and the girl
answered and addressed her by the
name Of Mary-the name of his darling
that vas gonel He heard the light
footstep tripping hither and thither
above him. and he yearned longingly,
passionately, for one last look at the
beautiful features. But she came not.
He finished his repast and arose.
"Wait, said the servant.
| She poured him out glass of rich,
old Port, and presented it with some
thing of respect in her demeanor: The
man drank, thanked her by gesture
and withdrew.
! Then he sadly went on his way. He
found at some distance a low resort,
where even such as he were welcomed.
He would seek oblivion in drink. Bet
Ter that than to brood despairirgly on
the memories that thr0nged his tor
tured brain. La a dim aud retired cor
mel he seated himself and called for
liquor. He drank deeply, but the fiery
draughts brought HIM neither forget
fulness nor relief. Toward evening he
Slept When he awoke it Was night,
and the hands of the clock pointed to
eleven. He passed out into the street.
The stars We're shining and the moon
rode high in the heavens. But the
night had brought with it cold even
more intense than that Of the morning.
His teeth chartered and he shuddered
in every limb. His very lungs seemed
frozen. He breathed painfully and in
gasps Aviscous scum clung upon his
lips, and when he drew his hand across
them it came away smeared with blood.
The streets, cleaning slyery white in
the moonbeams, were deserted, for few
dared to brave the icy air that night.
The man bent his steps toward the
dwelling he had left that morning.
| rhe image of the child was an irresls
! table fascination that drew him on. 1t
seemed to glide before him and beckon
him, and he followed like one under a
spell. Cautiously unlatching the gar
den gate, he crept within and hid him
self among the evergreens. L lower
windows of the cottage were alight.
but the drawn curtains hid the interior
from his view. A sound OF music
issued forth. He heard the rich tones
of woman's voice: with which at
times blended the sweet notes OF a
child. They thrilled him To his heart,
and he listened intently. absorbedly,
passionately, though they awoke him
to keener anguish and tue maddenlng
remembrance Of her he had loved and
lost. Then the music ceased. A cur
tain was drawn aside, and the hand
some lady who had stood before him IN
the park that morning seated herself
by the window aud gazed out upon the
starry night. And the child came, too!
The watcher Looked with all his soul
in his burning glance. The golden
tresses, the deep violet eyes, the dlmp-
ling chin, the white neck-he
dta k in every beauty and dwelt lilger-
.ngly on each childish grace. She
beckoned to one who had hitherto been
concealed from his view. A man :ld-
yanced to the window, took the girl III
his arms and kissed her blooming
cheek. The moonlight streaming from
without, the brilliant gasllght fooGlng
the apartment within, lit up his feat
uree, so that the crouching figure in the
garden saw him as clearly and distinct
ly as though he stood IN the full sun
shine. AS the Eldn Came within his
view the ewes OF the watcher dilated;
his features worked codvulslvely !;
he dragged himself nearer aud nearer.
He g zsd breathlessly; his very heart
stood still,
.Oh, GodV' he cried, '''tis he! tits
he! my son! my son!''
No; it was no illusion-no phantom
copjured up by his feyered brain. Ills
child. whom he had driven from his
side, now stood before hisn--rich, hap
py. blest in the love OF the blooming
wife beside him; blest in the love Of
the beautiful child that tWined her arms
about aim. And blest and happy as
was ne that night, SO was once the
wretched vagrant covering upon the
frozen snow. with despair tearing at his
heart aud the bitter tears freezing upon
his paliid cheeks. And, Oh! that death,
in whose face he had smiled that mora
ing. how horrible it giared upon him
now! To die, like a dog, in some cor
nj ner-abandoned, unpltied aud alone,
and to know that his wretched corpse